Don't get a rash

Pride can be a nasty thing.  The bible is full of scripture referring to the downfall of pride. (Here’s a few verses on pride.)
Notice how when King Uzziah became strong (and not on all “his” own), and when his arrogance got in the way, it ruined him:

• But when Uzziah became strong, his pride caused him to be destroyed. He was not faithful to the Lord his God. He went into the Lord’s Temple to burn incense on the altar for burning incense. ¹⁷ Azariah the priest and 80 brave priests who served the Lord followed Uzziah into the Temple. ¹⁸ They told Uzziah he was wrong. They said to him, “Uzziah, it is not your job to burn incense to the Lord. It is not right. That is for the priests, Aaron’s descendants, to do. They are the only ones who have been prepared for the holy work of burning incense. You have not been faithful, so you must go out of the Most Holy Place. The Lord God will not honor you for this.”  ¹⁹ But Uzziah was angry. He had a bowl in his hand for burning incense. While Uzziah was very angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in the Lord’s Temple by the altar for burning incense. 2 Chronicles 26:16-19

 
I could give plenty of my own examples of when I allowed self-pride to get in my way (Whew, lessons learned for sure!), but pride isn’t the only thing that caught my attention in these verses.
This is totally on a lighter side of things, but now I know where my pastor friend probably gets his “jokingly reasoning”.  When Pastor Tommy is trying to get someone to do something for the good of the church, he sometimes adds that if they don’t do it, he hopes they get a rash.  For example…he would say, “Now we have a great ministry going on and they need your help.  Please sign up to help, or you’ll get a rash.”
It’s a “tongue and cheek” comment and laughter always follows, but if you read 2 Chronicles 26:19 you’ll see how Uzziah’s downfall led him to have leprosy.
True lesson to be learned:  Our downfalls, no matter if it is arrogance or other strongholds in our lives, will lead us away from God.
Keep yourself in check with the ways of God, and do what is right in His sight.
Watch out, if you don’t do right, you just may get a rash.
Blessings to you all!
August 4